Convertible sewing machine cabinet and chair



June 1, 1954 J RUBlN 2,679,891

CONVERTIBLE SEWING MACHINE CABINET AND CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1952 I J l l l l h Jacob Rub/n INVENTOR.

Mm BY ym/54 fiMg June 1, 1954 J. RUBIN CONVERTIBLE SEWING MACHINE CABVINET AND CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1952 Jacob Rub/h INVENTOR.

BY WW Attorneys Patented June 1, 1954 CONVERTIBLE SEWING MACHINE CABINET AND CHAIR Jacob Rubin, Beckley, W. Va.

Application December 22, 1952, Serial No. 327,204

Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in articles of furniture, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a piece of furniture of the character herein described, which may be quickly and easily converted for use as a sewing machine or as a lounging chair, as desired.

An important feature of th invention resides in the provision of means which selectively constitute the chair section and provide support facilities for the sewing machine section, depending on whether the item is used as a chair or as a sewing machine.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its convenient convertibility, in its space saving characteristics, and in its adaptability for use with various sewing machine units of a conventional type.

With the above and more important objects and features in View and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention in readiness for use as a chair;

Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof with the chair cover and cushion removed;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figur 5 is a front elevational view of the invention in readiness for use as a sewing machine;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational detail illustrating the manner whereby the sewing machine section may be applied to or removed from the chair section;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the locking means for the upwardly swingable leaves of the top of the sewing machine section;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the locking member per se;

Figure 9 is a group perspective View of the chair section in its inverted position, and

Figure 10 is a front elevational view illustrating a simplified form of the invention.

Lik characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly to Figures 1-9 inclusive, the invention resides in the provision of a convertible article of furniture which is designated generally by the reference character I0 and embodies in its construction a first cabinet section I2 and a second cabinet section I4.

The section I2 is in th form of a conventional sewing machine cabinet accommodating a conventional sewing machine unit I6 and including a top I8 which is provided with a pair of hinged, upwardly swingable leaves 20. The top I8 is formed with a recess I8a whereby the sewing machine unit I6 may be projected or retracted, that is, projected into an operative position as shown in Figure 5 or retracted to an inoperative position as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The control for the sewing machine unit I6 is illustrated at 22, the same being adapted to be actuated either by the left or the right leg.

The bottom 24 of the section I2 is provided with a convenient kneehole 25 and with a plurality of casters 28.

Th second cabinet section I4 is of a substantially chair shaped or seat shaped configuration and includes a marginal flange 30 and a bottom 32 which is provided with a removable plate 34.

When the device is assembled in the manner shown in Figure 5 wherein the first section I2 is positioned on top of the second section I4, the plate 34 is removed so as to provide a kneehole in register with the kneehole 26 in the bottom 24 of the top section I2, whereby the controls 22 of the sewing machine unit IE may be conveniently operated. In this same position, the casters 28 of the section I2 rest upon the panel 32 of the section I4, the latter being in its inverted position as is clearly shown in Figure 9.

To facilitate installation and removal of the section I2 on top of the section I4, a brace 36 may be hinged to the section I2 as shown at 38, this brace having a beveled outer end 49 which is engageable with the floor while the section I2 rests in a tilted position, partly on the floor and partly on the section I4, as shown in Figure 6.

When the device is to be used as a chair, the section I2 is placed on the bottom and th section I4 is returned to its initial, upright position and is placed on top of the section I2, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The leaves 29 of the top I8 of the section I2 are then swung upwardly and are clamped by suitable catches 40 to the opposite sides of the section I4, so as to prevent the latter from displacement. In this position, the sewing machine unit I6, of course, is retracted in the section I2 and the removable plate 34 of the section I4 is secured in the bottom 32 by suitable means 42, so that a suitable cushion 44 may be placed in the chair afiorded by the section l4. Moreover, a cover 46 may be provided on the section 14 to enhance the appearance of the unit.

In a slightly modified form of the invention shown in Figures 7, 8 and 10, the sewing machine section 12 is substantially the same as that already described and includes the top [8 and upwardly swingable leaves 20. In this embodiment the section I4 is not provided, since the leaves '29, when swung upwardly, cooperate with the top IS in providing a chair, as shown in Figure 10. The leaves 20 are sustained in their upwardly swung positions by a pair of keepers 46 which are formed with recesses 48 so as to fit on the end edge portions of the top It while the upper surfaces 583 of the keepers 46 abut the lower edges of the upraised leaves 20, thus preventing the leaves from dropping. The chair in this embodiment may be equipped with a suitable cushion 52 and covering 54, as illustrated.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A convertible sewing machine cabinet and chair, comprising a first cabinet section including a projectable and retractable sewing machine unit, and a second cabinet section comprising a U-shaped vertical member providing a back and two sides and a horizontal panel secured inside and adjacent the lower edge of the U-shaped member, said second cabinet section removably positioned on the first section and affording a chair therein when the sewing machine unit is retracted in the first section, said first section being of smaller cross-sectional extent at the lower end thereof than said second section and being adapted to be positioned within the second section when the latter is inverted and the first section is placed thereon.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the horizontal panel in the second section is provided with a removable plate extending from an edge thereof to afford a kneehole when the second section is in inverted position.

3. A convertible sewing machine cabinet and chair, comprising a first cabinet section including a top, a projectable and retractable sewing machine unit disposed selectively above and below said top and a pair of upwardly swingable extension leaves hinged to opposite ends of the top, a second cabinet section comprising a U -shaped vertical member providing a back and two sides and a horizontal panel secured inside and adjacent the lower edge of the U-shaped member, said second cabinet section removably positioned on the first section and affording a chair therein when the sewing machine unit is retracted in the first section, means on said second section for lockably engaging the extension leaves of the first section when the leaves are swung upwardly whereby to connect the first and second sections together, said panel supporting the first section when the first section is positioned on top of the second section when the second section is inverted.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein the horizontal panel in the second section is provided with a removable plate extending from an edge thereof to afford a kneehole when the second section is in inverted position.

5. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said first section is of smaller cross-sectional extent at the lower end thereof than said second section and is adapted to be positioned within the second section when the latter is inverted and the first section is placed thereon. 

